D-shaped surgical staples

ABSTRACT

An exemplary surgical apparatus may include a surgical staple deformable from a first configuration to a second, deployed configuration, where the surgical staple includes a first leg and a second leg; where in the second, deployed configuration the surgical staple forms substantially a D-shape. Another exemplary surgical apparatus may include a feeder belt; a surgical staple deformable from a first configuration to a second, deployed configuration, where the surgical staple includes a first leg and a second leg connected to the first leg, where one end of the first leg is frangibly affixed to the feeder belt and one end of said the leg is free; where in the second, deployed configuration the surgical staple forms substantially a D-shape. An exemplary method of treating tissue may include providing a surgical staple; urging the surgical staple into tissue, while the surgical staple has a first shape; and deforming the surgical staple into substantially a D-shape.

This patent application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 12/477,834, filed on Jun. 3, 2009, which subsequently issued asU.S. Pat. No. 8,056,789, and which is hereby incorporated by referencein its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention generally relates to surgical staplers and stapling.

BACKGROUND

An endocutter is a surgical tool that staples and cuts tissue totransect that tissue while leaving the cut ends hemostatic. Anendocutter is small enough in diameter for use in minimally invasivesurgery, where access to a surgical site is obtained through a trocar,port, or small incision in the body. A linear cutter is a larger versionof an endocutter, and is used to transect portions of thegastrointestinal tract. A typical endocutter receives at its distal enda disposable single-use cartridge with several rows of staples, andincludes an anvil opposed to the cartridge. During actuation of anendocutter, the cartridge fires all of the staples that it holds. Inorder to deploy more staples, the endocutter must be moved away from thesurgical site and removed from the patient, after which the oldcartridge is exchanged for a new cartridge. The endocutter is thenreinserted into the patient. However, it can be difficult and/ortime-consuming to located the surgical site after reinsertion. Further,the process of removing the endocutter from the patient after each use,replacing the cartridge, and then finding the surgical site again istedious, inconvenient and time-consuming, particularly where a surgicalprocedure requires multiple uses of the endocutter. That inconveniencemay discourage surgeons from using the endocutter for procedures inwhich use of an endocutter may benefit the patient. Similarinconveniences may accompany the use of surgical staplers other thanendocutters.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary feeder belt with staplesaffixed thereto.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a carrier with staples affixed thereto.

FIG. 3 is a top view of carriers and staples of FIG. 2 attached to anexemplary feeder belt.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an exemplary wedge.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another exemplary carrier with staplesaffixed thereto, prior to deployment.

FIG. 6 is the perspective view of FIG. 5, after deployment.

FIG. 7 is a side view of an exemplary staple in a first state.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the exemplary staple of FIG. 7 in a secondstate.

FIG. 9 is a side view of the exemplary staple of FIG. 7 in a thirdstate.

FIG. 10 is a side view of the exemplary staple of FIG. 7 in a fourth,deployed state.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an exemplary feeder belt with groups ofstaples affixed thereto.

FIG. 12 is a side view of an exemplary feeder belt from whichdifferently-sized staples extend.

FIG. 13 is a side view of an exemplary surgical instrument with an anviland staple holder.

FIG. 14 is a bottom view of an exemplary anvil.

FIG. 15 is a side cross-section view of an anvil with non-homogeneousstaple pockets defined therein.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a first group of staples extending froma corresponding feeder belt.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a second group of staples extendingfrom the feeder belt of FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a third group of staples extending fromthe feeder belt of FIG. 16.

FIG. 19 is a side view of an exemplary variable-thickness staple in afirst configuration.

FIG. 20 is a side view of the staple of FIG. 19 in a secondconfiguration.

FIG. 21 is a side view of the staple of FIG. 19 in a thirdconfiguration.

FIG. 22 is a perspective view of two exemplary feeder belts configuredto deliver collectively three rows of staples.

FIG. 23 is an end view of the feeder belts of FIG. 22.

FIG. 24 is a perspective view of an exemplary feeder belt from whichthree rows of staples extend.

FIG. 25 is an end of an exemplary feeder belt assembly from which threerows of staples extend.

FIG. 26 is an end of another exemplary feeder belt assembly from whichthree rows of staples extend.

The use of the same reference symbols in different figures indicatessimilar or identical items.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/263,171, filed on Oct. 31, 2008 (the“Endocutter Document”), is hereby incorporated by reference herein inits entirety. The Endocutter Document describes exemplary feeder beltsused in a surgical stapler. Referring to FIG. 1, a feeder belt 2 may bea long, narrow, thin strip of material from which one or more staples 4extend. The feeder belt 2 and staples 4 of the present document may besubstantially as set forth in the Endocutter Document, with theexception of the inventive features set forth in the present document.Each staple 4 may have a free end 6, and an opposite end 8 that isconnected to the feeder belt 2. Advantageously, the staples 4 arefrangibly affixed to the feeder belt 2, such that they are sheared offfrom the feeder belt 2 during deployment. However, the staples 4 may beconnected to the feeder belt 2 in any suitable manner. One or more rows10 of staples 4 may be connected to the feeder belt 2. Each row 10 ofstaples 4 is the group of staples 4 positioned at substantially the samelateral location relative to the longitudinal centerline of the feederbelt 2, and each row 10 of staples 4 may be oriented generallylongitudinally. After deployment, each staple 4 may form substantially aD-shape. As seen in FIG. 1, an exemplary feeder belt 2 may be agenerally flat and generally linear piece of material that carries aplurality of staples 4. The feeder belt 2 may lie substantially in asingle plane. The feeder belt 2 may be flexible, or instead may berigid.

Referring also to FIGS. 2-3, at least two staples 4 may be generallyD-shaped, and may extend from a carrier 16. This configuration ofstaples 4 may be referred to as the “double-D configuration.” The end 8of each staple 4 that is connected to the carrier 16 may be fixed tothat carrier 16 such that the staples 4 are not frangibly separable fromthe carrier 16. Instead, the carrier 16 may itself be fixed to andfrangibly separable from the feeder belt 2. In this way, the carrier 16is implanted in tissue along with the attached staples 4. The connectionbetween the carrier 16 and the feeder belt 2 may be coined or otherwisefabricated to facilitate frangible separation from the feeder belt 2.Such a connection may be made in the same or similar manner as between astaple 4 and the feeder belt 2 as set forth in the Endocutter Document,or in a different manner. As shown in FIG. 2, staples 4 that areattached to a carrier 16 may be substantially in the same plane as oneanother, such that the staples 4 all extend from the same side of thecarrier 16. Further, those staples 4 may be oriented in substantiallythe same direction as one another, such that the free end 6 of eachstaple 4 is located at the proximal end or at the distal end of eachstaple 4. Alternately, at least one staple 4 attached to a carrier 16may be oriented in a different direction relative to a least one otherstaple 4. At least one carrier 16 may be in substantially the same planeas the feeder belt 2, and positioned lateral to the feeder belt 2.

Referring also to FIG. 4, the wedge 20 used to form the staples 4 andthen shear the carrier 16 from the feeder belt 2 may have athree-dimensional form. That is, the wedge 20 may include two separateramps 22, 24, where the first ramp 22 is configured to deform staples 4and the second ramp 24 is configured to shear the carriers 16 from thefeeder belt 2. The wedge 20 may be actuated substantially as describedin the Endocutter Document, with the following differences. The firstramp 22 may be located laterally outboard relative to the second ramp24. As the wedge 20 slides relative to the feeder belt 2, the first ramp22 sequentially engages staples 4, deforming them upward into contactwith an anvil which causes further deformation. The first ramp 22 isshaped to facilitate that deformation, such as set forth in theEndocutter Document. The second ramp 24 may be located laterally inboardrelative to the first ramp 22. The second ramp 24 is shaped such that,after the staples 4 attached to a carrier 16 have been deformed bycontact with the first ramp 22, the second ramp 24 contacts and exerts aforce on the carrier 16 and/or the junction between the feeder belt 2and that carrier 16 in order to shear off or otherwise separate thecarrier 16 from the feeder belt 2. Alternately, instead of athree-dimensional wedge 20 with two separate ramps 22, 24, two separatewedges 20 may be utilized, where one wedge 20 deforms staples 4 and theother wedge 20 shears carriers 16 from the feeder belt 2.

Alternately, at least one staple 4 that is attached to a carrier 16 maybe out of plane relative to at least one other staple 4 that is attachedto that carrier 16. Referring also to FIG. 5, a carrier 16 may have twoor more staples 4 extending therefrom, where at least one staple 4extends from a different side of the carrier 16 than at least one otherstaple 4. At least one staple 4 may be oriented in a different directionfrom at least one other staple 4. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, twostaples 4 may be attached to a carrier 16, where the free end 6 of onestaple 4 is located at the proximal end of that staple 4, and the freeend 6 of the other staple 4 is located at the distal end of that staple4. This configuration of the staples 4 may be referred to as the “Bconfiguration.” Two separate wedges 20 may be utilized in conjunctionwith the staples 4 and carrier 16. Those two wedges 20 may move inopposite directions relative to one another, referring also to FIG. 6,to deform the staples 4. One of the wedges 20 may be configuredsubstantially as shown in FIG. 4 such that the wedge 20 can both deformone or more staples 4 and shear the carrier 16 from the feeder belt 2.The resultant combination of the deformed staples 4 and carrier 16 mayform generally a B-shape. Alternately, both wedges 20 may be configuredas set forth in the Endocutter Document, and the staples 4 may beconnected to the feeder belt 2 directly instead of to a carrier 16.

Referring also to FIGS. 7-10, staples 4 may be formed into aB-configuration with a wedge 20 moving in a single direction. Suchstaples 4 may be attached to a carrier 16 substantially coplanar withone another, similar to the configuration of FIG. 2. As another example,at least two staples 4 may be attached to a carrier 16 out of planerelative to one another, similar to the configuration of FIG. 5. As seenin FIG. 7, at least one staple 4 may be oriented relative to a wedge 20such that the free end 6 is longitudinally closer to the wedge 20 as itapproaches the staple 4 than the opposite end 8. The surface of thewedge 20 that contacts that staple 4, and the staple 4 itself, areshaped such that contact therebetween as the wedge 20 slides relative tothe staple 4 urges the free end 6 of the staple 4 upward, referring alsoto FIG. 8. As the wedge 20 continues to slide relative to the staples 4,the wedge 20 encounters the next longitudinally-successive staple 4, andurges that staple 4 upward as well, referring also to FIG. 9.Optionally, two wedges 20 may be used where at least two staples 4attached to a carrier 16 are out of plane relative to each other. Afterthe wedge 20 has deformed both staples 4, the staples 4 are in theB-configuration, as shown in FIG. 10. The carrier 16 may then beseparated from the feeder belt 2 by the wedge 20. Optionally, thethree-dimensional wedge 20 of FIG. 4 may be utilized in order to firstform the staples 4 and then separate the carrier 16 from the feeder belt2.

The staples 4 may be grouped together along the feeder belt 2 in anysuitable manner. As one example, referring also to FIG. 11, the staples4 may be organized into two or more groups 22 longitudinally spacedapart from one another by blank space 24 along the feeder belt 2. Theblank space 24 may have any suitable length. Advantageously, no staples4 extend from the feeder belt 2 along a blank space 24 on the feederbelt 2. At least one staple 4 may be deployable to a different closedshape than at least one other staple 4. As one example, referring alsoto FIG. 12, the staples 4 within a group 22 need not be homogeneous. Forexample, one or more staples 4 may extend downward from the feeder belt2 a distance greater than one or more other staples 4. A staple 4 a mayextend downward from the feeder belt 2 a first distance 26. Anotherstaple 4 b may extend downward from the feeder belt 2 a second distance28 greater than the first distance 26. Yet another staple 4 c may extenddownward from the feeder belt 2 a third distance 30 greater than thesecond distance 28 The staple 4 c may be larger than the staples 4 a, 4b. The staples 4 a, 4 b, 4 c may be positioned longitudinally relativeto one another in any suitable manner. Advantageously, non-homogeneousstaples 4 are positioned longitudinally relative to one another, anddiffer from one another, in a manner related to a specific surgicalprocedure to be performed. For example, staple 4 a is positionedproximal to staple 4 b, which in turn is positioned proximal to staple 4c. In this way, tissue that varies in thickness in a known way may bestapled effectively, where the tissue becomes thicker from the proximalto the distal direction. A staple 4 that extends further downward fromthe feeder belt 2 may rotate about its attached end 8 substantially thesame amount rotationally as a staple 4 extends a lesser distancedownward from the feeder belt 2. As a result, the free end of 6 a staple4 c that extends a third distance 30 downward from the feeder belt 2will swipe through tissue at a height above the feeder belt 2 that isabove the height through which the free end of a staple 4 a extends afirst distance 26 downward from the feeder belt 2 can swipe, where thefirst distance 26 is less than the third distance 30. As anotherexample, one or more staples 4 may be shaped differently from one ormore other staples 4, whether or not a subset of those staples 4 extendsdownward a different distance from the feeder belt 2 than a differentsubset of those staples 4. As another example, one or more staples 4within a group 22 may have a D-configuration after formation andshearing, and one or more staples 4 within the same group 22 may have aB-configuration, a double-D configuration, and/or any other suitableconfiguration. One or more staples 4 within a group 22 may vary from oneor more other staples 4 within the same group 22 in any other suitablematter. Alternately, all of the staples 4 within at least one group 22may be substantially homogeneous.

Referring also to FIGS. 13-14, as set forth in the Endocutter Document,a surgical instrument that deploys staples 4 from the feeder belt 2 mayinclude an end effector 40 that includes a staple holder 42 and an anvil44. One or more feeder belts 2 may extend through a shaft 46 proximal toand connected to the end effector 40, into the staple holder 42. Aninner surface 48 of the anvil 44, which is the surface of the anvil 44oriented generally toward the staple holder 42, may include stapleforming pockets 50 defined therein. As the staples 4 are deployed, thefree end 6 of each staple 4 may be forced into a corresponding stapleforming pocket 50, whereby contact between the free end 6 of that staple4 and the staple forming pocket 50 causes that staple 4 to close. Eachstaple forming pocket 50 may be shaped in any suitable manner.

Referring also to FIG. 15, the staple forming pockets 50 need not behomogeneous. As one example, one or more staple forming pockets 50 mayextend further into the inner surface 48 of the anvil 44 then one ormore other staple forming pockets 50. One anvil forming pocket 50 a mayextend a first distance 52 above the inner surface 48 of the anvil 44.Another anvil forming pocket 50 b may extend a second distance 54 abovethe inner surface 48 of the anvil 44, where the second distance 54 maybe less than the first distance 52. Another anvil forming pocket 50 cmay extend a third distance 56 above the inner surface 48 of the anvil44, where the third distance 56 may be less than the second distance 54.As another example, at least one staple forming pocket 50 may be curvedor shaped in a different manner than at least one other staple formingpocket 50. For example, one staple forming pocket 50 may have a tighterradius of curvature than a different staple forming pocket 50. Asanother example, one staple forming pocket 50 may have a complex shape,and another staple forming pocket 50 may simply be arcuate. In this way,different anvil forming pockets 50 a, 50 b, 50 c may form correspondingstaples 4 differently. Non-homogeneous anvil forming pockets 50 may beutilized with a feeder belt 2 that utilizes at least one group 22 ofstaples 4 that is homogeneous, such that different degrees of bendingand forming may be applied across a variety of staples 4 that aresubstantially the same in order to obtain the result of closed staples 4that are differentially formed. As another example, non-homogeneousanvil forming pockets 50 may be utilized with non homogeneous staples 4,such as those described above, where particular staples 4 are positionedfor deployment into particular, corresponding anvil forming pockets 50.

As another example, the inner surface 48 of the anvil 44 need not beflat, such that different anvil forming pockets 50 may be located at adifferent distance away from the staple holder 42 when the end effector40 is closed. In this way, staples 4 of different heights may beaccommodated. As another example, the gap between the inner surface 48of the anvil 44 and the staple holder 42 may be adjustable, whether theinner surface 48 is substantially flat or not. In this way, the degreeof deformation of the staples 4 within a particular tissue structureheld between the anvil 44 and the staple holder 42 may be controlled.The gap may be adjustable in any suitable manner, such as by mechanisms,structures, or methods set forth in co-pending U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 12/477,302, filed on Jun. 3, 2009, which is hereby incorporatedby reference in its entirety.

Referring also to FIGS. 16-18, staples 4 on a feeder belt 2 may formlongitudinally-successive groups 22 in which at least one group 22 mayhave a different number or configuration of staples 4 than at least oneother group 22. Such an organization of staples 4 may be advantageousfor particular surgical procedures. Referring to FIG. 16, a first group22 a of staples 4 may be connected to a feeder belt 2. Referring to FIG.17, a second group 22 b of staples 4 may be connected to the feeder belt2 proximal to the first group 22 a. The first group 22 a of staples 4may include a different number of staples 4 than the second group 22 b.Referring to FIG. 18, a third group 22 c of staples 4 may be connectedto the feeder belt 2 proximal to the second group 22 b. The third group22 c of staples 4 may include a different number of staples 4 than thefirst group 22 a and/or the second group 22 b. The first group 22 a isdeployed before the second group 22 b, which in turn is deployed beforethe third group 22 c. Where each group 22 a, 22 b, 22 c includessuccessively fewer staples 4 than the previous one, that configurationof feeder belt 2 may be suitable for a surgical procedure in whichtissue structures of increasingly narrow widths are treated with thefeeder belt 2.

Where a variable gap between the anvil 44 and staple holder 42 in theclosed position of the end effector 40 is provided, the staples 4 may beconfigured in any manner to take advantage of that variable gap. As oneexample, referring also to FIGS. 19-21, at least one staple 4 may beconfigured to be closed through a variety of degrees. Referring to FIG.19, a staple 4 may be closed to a first degree in which both sides ofthe staple 4 are closed to a first distance 60 a. That first distance 60a may result from a first gap between the anvil 44 and the staple holder42. Referring also to FIG. 20, a staple 4 may be closed to a seconddegree in which both sides of the staple 4 are closed to a seconddistance 60 b, which may be less than the first distance 60 a, and whichmay result from a second gap between the anvil 44 and the staple holder42 that is less than the first gap. Referring also to FIG. 21, a staple4 may be closed to a third degree in which both sides of the staple 4are closed to a third distance 60 c, which may be less than the firstdistance 60 a and the second distance 60 b, and which may result from athird gap between the anvil 44 and the staple holder 42 that is lessthan the first gap and the second gap.

The staple 4 may be configured in any manner to close through a varietyof tightnesses 60 a, 60 b, 60 c without causing interference between thefree end 6 of the staple 4 and a remainder of the staple 4. As oneexample, at least one staple 4 may include a notch 62 at or near the end8 of the staple 4 that is fixed to the feeder belt 2. Such a notch 62reduces the thickness of the staple 4, such that the free end 6 of thestaple 4 can travel within that notch as the staple 4 is closed to adegree in which the free end 6 would otherwise collide and interferewith the staple 4 in the vicinity of the end 8. As another example, atleast one staple 4 may be curved laterally such that contact between thefree end 6 and a staple-forming pocket causes the free end 6 of thestaple 4 to move laterally to and swipe past the other end 8 of thestaple 8 as a consequence of the shape of the staple 4. As anotherexample, the shape of at least one staple forming pocket 50 activelydeflects the free end 6 of at least one staple 4 laterally, allowing itto swipe past the opposite end 8 of the staple 4 as a consequence of theshape of the staple forming pocket 50. Such a staple-forming pocket 50alternately may be used in conjunction with a laterally-curved staple 4such as described immediately above. As another example, the free end 6of the staple 4 and/or a remainder of the staple 4 may be shaped suchthat contact between the free end 6 and a remainder of the staple 4causes the free end 6 to deflect laterally and prevent interferencetherebetween. To that end, the free end 6 may be conical or otherwisecurved, as may a remainder of the staple 4.

Multiple feeder belts 2 may be utilized in the staple holder 42 in orderto provide any suitable number of rows 10 of staples 4 on each side of aknife held by the staple holder 42 that is used for transection or otherincision in tissue made by the end effector 40. Referring also to FIGS.22-23, two feeder belts 2 may be utilized on one or both sides of atransection, where one feeder belt 2 a includes two rows 10 of staples 4such as described above with regard to FIG. 1. The other feeder belt 2 bmay include a single row 10 of staples 4 configured in any suitablemanner. As one example, for ease of fabrication, the feeder belt 2 a maybe configured in substantially the same way as the feeder belt 2 b,where fabrication of a second row 10 of staples 4 is simply omitted fromthe feeder belt 2 b. Alternately, the feeder belt 2 b may have any otherconfiguration of staples 4. For example, the staples 4 extending fromfeeder belt 2 b need not be positioned in a row 10, and instead may belaterally staggered relative to one another. Alternately, two feederbelts 2 each may include two rows 10 of staples 4, such that four rows10 of staples 4 may be deployed on each side of the transection. In thisway, fabrication of the feeder belts 2 may be simplified, because thesame feeder belt 2 may be utilized multiple times without the need tofabricate a different configuration of feeder belt 2.

Alternately, three or more rows 10 of staples 4 may be attached to asingle feeder belt 2. Referring also to FIG. 24, two rows 10 of staples4 may be attached to the feeder belt 2 substantially as described in theEndocutter Document. A third row 10 may be provided by attaching staples4 to the feeder belt 2 individually with extension arms 64. At least oneextension arm 64 may extend generally laterally to the feeder belt 2, ina direction that may be substantially perpendicular to the longitudinalcenterline of that feeder belt. At least one extension arm 64 may besubstantially in the same plane as the corresponding feeder belt 2.Alternately, at least one extension arm 64 may be oriented or configureddifferently relative to the feeder belt 2. The staple 4 may beconfigured to be sheared off or otherwise separated from a lateral end66 of the extension arm 64, such as by the three-dimensional wedge 20 ofFIG. 4. Alternately, at least one extension arm 64 may be sheared offfrom or otherwise separated from the feeder belt 2, and may remain fixedto the staple 2. Advantageously, each extension arm 64 is connected toone corresponding staple 4. Alternately, at least one extension arm 64may have two or more staples 4 connected thereto and extendingtherefrom. A staple 4 fixed to a corresponding extension arm 64 may bespaced laterally apart from the feeder belt 2.

Alternately, a feeder belt 2 having three or more rows 10 of staples 4attached to a single feeder belt 2 may be fabricated differently. As oneexample, referring to FIG. 25, a feeder belt 2 a may be provided, alongwith a feeder belt 2 b, such as described above with regard to FIG. 23.The feeder belt 2 b may be generally L-shaped as viewed from the end.The feeder belt 2 a may include a plurality of apertures therethrough.The feeder belt 2 b may be fastened to an upper surface of the feederbelt 2 a, such that the staples 4 b of the feeder belt 2 b extendthrough the apertures in the feeder belt 2 a and beneath the feeder belt2 a. The feeder belt 2 b may be fastened to the upper surface of thefeeder belt 2 a by laser welding or in any other suitable manner.Alternately, referring to FIG. 26, a master belt 70 may be provided,where one or more L-shaped feeder belts 2 b are attached to theunderside thereof by laser welding or in any other suitable manner. Themaster belt 70 need not have staples 4 extending therefrom, and maysimply carry one or more L-shaped feeder belts 2 b. Alternately, themaster belt 70 may be fastened to one or more two-row feeder belts 2 a.Alternately, the master belt 70 may include a plurality of aperturestherethrough. At least one feeder belt 2 b may be fastened to an uppersurface of the master belt 70, such that the staples 4 b of the feederbelt 2 b extend through the apertures in the master belt 70 and beneaththe feeder belt 70.

The feeder belts 2 described herein may be actuated such as described inthis document, in the Endocutter Document, or in any other suitablemanner. As another example, two-phase deployment may be used to deployone or more staples 4. One or more wedges 20 or other deploymentmechanisms may slide relative to one or more of the staples 4 in a firstpass generally along one longitudinal direction. During the first pass,the one or more wedges 20 may deploy one or more staples 4 in part or infull. Those wedges 20 or other deployment mechanisms then may sliderelative to one or more of the staples 4 in a second pass generallyalong the opposite longitudinal direction. During the second pass, theone or more wedges 20 may complete the deployment of anypartially-deployed staples 4. Alternately, the first pass of the wedges20 deforms the staples 4, and the second pass of the wedges shears thestaples 4 from the feeder belt 2.

While the invention has been described in detail, it will be apparent toone skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can bemade and equivalents employed, without departing from the presentinvention. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited tothe details of construction, the arrangements of components, and/or themethod set forth in the above description or illustrated in thedrawings. Statements in the abstract of this document, and any summarystatements in this document, are merely exemplary; they are not, andcannot be interpreted as, limiting the scope of the claims. Further, thefigures are merely exemplary and not limiting. Topical headings andsubheadings are for the convenience of the reader only. They should notand cannot be construed to have any substantive significance, meaning orinterpretation, and should not and cannot be deemed to indicate that allof the information relating to any particular topic is to be found underor limited to any particular heading or subheading. Therefore, theinvention is not to be restricted or limited except in accordance withthe following claims and their legal equivalents.

1. A surgical apparatus, comprising: a surgical staple deformable from afirst configuration to a second, deployed configuration, said surgicalstaple including a first leg and a second leg, wherein, in said second,deployed configuration, said surgical staple forms substantially aD-shape; and a feeder belt to which surgical staple is frangiblyaffixed, wherein one end of said first leg is affixed to said feederbelt, and one end of said second leg is free, and wherein said ends arecloser to one another in said second, deployed configuration than insaid first configuration.
 2. The surgical apparatus of claim 1, whereinsaid ends contact one another in said second configuration.
 3. Thesurgical apparatus of claim 1, wherein said surgical staple isplastically deformable from said first configuration to said secondconfiguration.
 4. The surgical apparatus of claim 1, wherein in saidfirst configuration, said first leg of said surgical staple issubstantially straight, and said second leg of said surgical staple isat least partially curved.
 5. The surgical apparatus of claim 1, whereinin said second, deployed configuration, said surgical staple forms acompletely closed D-shape.
 6. The surgical apparatus of claim 1, whereinsaid surgical staple is generally V-shaped in said first configuration.7. The surgical apparatus of claim 1, wherein said surgical stapleincludes a continuously curved segment in said first configuration.
 8. Asurgical apparatus, comprising: a feeder belt; a surgical stapledeformable from a first configuration to a second, deployedconfiguration, said surgical staple including a first leg and a secondleg connected to said first leg, wherein one end of said first leg isfrangibly affixed to said feeder belt and one end of said second leg isfree; wherein in said second, deployed configuration said surgicalstaple forms substantially a D-shape, and wherein said ends contact oneanother in said second configuration.
 9. The surgical apparatus of claim8, wherein in said first configuration, said first leg of said surgicalstaple is substantially straight, and said second leg of said surgicalstaple is at least partially curved.
 10. The surgical apparatus of claim8, wherein said surgical staple is plastically deformable from saidfirst configuration to said second configuration.
 11. The surgicalapparatus of claim 8, further comprising at least one additionaldifferently sized surgical staple affixed to said feeder belt.
 12. Amethod of treating tissue, comprising: urging a surgical staple intotissue, while said surgical staple has a first shape; deforming saidsurgical staple from said first shape into a second, deployedconfiguration comprising substantially a D-shape; and breaking saidsurgical staple from a feeder belt to which said staple is frangiblyaffixed, after said deforming, wherein one end of a first leg of saidstaple is affixed to said feeder belt before said breaking, and whereinone end of a second leg of said staple is free before said breaking, andwherein said ends are closer to one another in said second configurationthan in said first configuration.
 13. The method of claim 12, whereinsaid first shape is generally V-shaped.
 14. The method of claim 12,wherein said deforming is plastically deforming.